Wet/dry utility vacuum and implement bag assembly

ABSTRACT

A wet/dry utility vacuum has an implement bag secured thereto for conveniently and easily storing a plurality of vacuum implements therein and for facilitating the drainage of fluid from such implements. The wet/dry utility vacuum is provided with an implement bag supporting member. The implement bag is supported on the implement bag supporting member. The implement bag contains a plurality of vacuum implements therein for selective use with the wet/dry utility vacuum. The implement bag is preferably formed from porous or mesh material that allows fluid to drain from the vacuum implements contained therein and from within the implement bag to minimize the likelihood of fluid being retained within the vacuum implement or within the implement bag during storage.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates in general to vacuum appliances. Morespecifically, this invention relates to an improved structure for awet/dry utility vacuum having an implement bag for conveniently andeasily storing a plurality of vacuum implements therein and thatfacilitates the drainage of fluid from such implements.

A variety of vacuum devices are known in the art that are effective tosuction both wet and dry materials. These vacuum devices, which arecommonly referred to as “wet/dry vacuums” typically include a relativelylarge holding tank having an open top and a suction mechanism that issupported on the open top of the holding tank. A hose or other flexibleconduit is usually provided having a first end that is connected to thesuction mechanism and a second end that is adapted to support a vacuumimplement (such as a vacuum head or a crevice tool) thereon. When thesuction mechanism is operated, the wet and dry materials are drawnthrough the vacuum implement supported on the second end of the hose andare deposited within the holding tank for subsequent disposal.

In many instances, the wet/dry vacuum is provided a plurality ofinterchangeable vacuum implements can be used for varying purposes.Although the provision of such a plurality of vacuum implements isdesirable, most wet/dry vacuums do not provide any structure forconveniently and easily storing them directly on the wet/dry vacuum.Thus, it has been found that the plurality of vacuum implements canbecome separated from the wet/dry vacuum and misplaced. For those fewwet/dry vacuums that do provide a structure for storing the plurality ofvacuum implements directly thereon, it has been found that these storingstructures are not well suited for use with vacuum implements that canget wet because fluid from the implement cannot easily drain therefromafter use. Thus, it would be desirable to provide an improved structurefor a wet/dry utility vacuum for conveniently and easily storing aplurality of vacuum implements therein and that facilitates the drainageof fluid from such implements.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an improved structure for a wet/dry utilityvacuum having an implement bag for conveniently and easily storing aplurality of vacuum implements therein and that facilitates the drainageof fluid from such implements. The wet/dry utility vacuum is providedwith an implement bag supporting member. The implement bag is supportedon the implement bag supporting member. The implement bag contains aplurality of vacuum implements therein for selective use with thewet/dry utility vacuum. The implement bag is preferably formed fromporous or mesh material that allows fluid to drain from the vacuumimplements contained therein and from within the implement bag tominimize the likelihood of fluid being retained within the vacuumimplement or within the implement bag during storage.

Various objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent tothose skilled in the art from the following detailed description of thepreferred embodiment, when read in light of the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a wet/dry utility vacuum and implementbag assembly in accordance with this invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of the implement bag andvacuum implements illustrated in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings, there is illustrated in FIG. 1 a wet/dryutility vacuum, indicated generally at 10, in accordance with thisinvention. The illustrated wet/dry utility vacuum 10, which is intendedto be representative of any type of conventional wet/dry utility vacuumstructure, includes a relatively large holding tank 12 having a closedbottom end, an opened upper end, and a hollow interior space. Ifdesired, the bottom of the holding tank 12 may be supported on aplurality of wheels 12 a to facilitate movement of the wet/dry utilityvacuum 10 to and from a storage location and during use. An extendiblehandle 12 b may be secured to the outside of the holding tank 12 tofurther facilitate movement of the wet/dry utility vacuum 10 to and froma storage location and during use.

A suction mechanism, indicated generally at 14, is supported on theopened upper end of the holding tank 12. The suction mechanism 14 isconventional in the art and includes an air intake port 14 a and an airexhaust port 14 b, both of which communicate with the interior space ofthe holding tank 12 in a known manner. The suction mechanism 14 furtherincludes a motor 14 c that, when operated, is adapted to create arelatively low pressure or vacuum situation within the holding tank 12.Typically, the suction mechanism 14 also includes a conventional checkvalve (not shown) that can be provided either at the intake port 14 a(to permit the one-way flow of air from outside of the holding tank 12to inside the holding tank 12) or at the exhaust port 14 b (to permitthe one-way flow of air from inside the holding tank 12 to outside ofthe holding tank 12). As a result, when the motor 14 c is operated, airflows at a relatively high velocity from outside of the holding tank 12through the intake port 14 a to the interior of the holding tank 12, andthen from the interior of the holding tank 12 through the exhaust port14 b to the outside thereof. The suction mechanism usually includes afilter (not shown) to trap fluid and solid materials that are drawn intothe interior of the holding tank 12 by this relatively high velocityflow of air and prevent them from exiting through the exhaust port 14 b.

The illustrated wet/dry utility vacuum 10 also includes a hose 16 orother similar conduit. The hose 16 is usually formed from a flexiblematerial and has a first end 16 a and a second end 16 b. The first end16 a of the hose 16 is sized and shaped to cooperate in an air-tightmanner with the intake port 14 a of the suction mechanism 14, as shownin FIG. 1. The second end 16 b of the hose 16 is adapted to support oneof a plurality of vacuum implements, indicated generally at 18, thereon.As best shown in FIG. 2, the plurality of vacuum implements 18 mayinclude a vacuum head 18 a, a crevice tool 18 b, and a pair of extensiontubes 18 c. However, the plurality of vacuum implements 18 may beembodied as any desired structures. The second end 16 b of the hose 16is sized and shaped to cooperate in an air-tight manner with each of theplurality of vacuum implements 18. Thus, when the motor 14 c of thesuction mechanism 14 is operated, fluid and solid materials are drawnthrough the selected one of the plurality of vacuum implements 18supported on the second end 16 b of the hose 16 and are deposited withinthe holding tank 12 for subsequent disposal.

The wet/dry utility vacuum 10 may have one or more implement bagsupporting members 20 provided thereon. In the illustrated embodiment,the implement bag supporting members 20 are embodied as a plurality ofconventional hooks provided on the handle 12 b of the holding tank 12and on the motor 14 c of the suction assembly 14. However, it will beappreciated that any number of such implement bag supporting members 20can be provided at any desired location on the wet/dry utility vacuum10. It will also be appreciated that implement bag supporting members 20may have any desired shapes and sizes. Furthermore, it will beappreciated that the implement bag supporting members 20 may be embodiedas a portion of the wet/dry utility vacuum 10 itself. For example, theimplement bag supporting member 20 may be embodied as a conventionalflange (not shown) or other structure that extends outwardly from aportion of the wet/dry utility vacuum 10. Lastly, it will be appreciatedthat the implement bag supporting member 20 may be provided on a supportsurface that is completely separate from the wet/dry utility vacuum 10.For example, such an external support surface may be provided as aportion of a wall of a garage, basement, or other storage area (notshown). The purpose of the implement bag supporting members 20 will beexplained in detail below.

Referring now to FIG. 2, there is illustrated an implement bag,indicated generally at 30, for use with the wet/dry utility vacuum 10.The illustrated implement bag 30 includes a body 31 that is preferablyformed from a suitable flexible fabric material, such as cotton, nylon,and other polymers, for example. In the illustrated embodiment, the body31 is fabricated or otherwise formed from porous or mesh material. Itwill understood that such mesh material may be either a woven or anon-woven mesh material. The openings between the threads, cords, ormaterial of the implement bag 30 may be any desired size and shape toallow fluid, such as water, to drain from within the implement bag 30.Preferably, the implement bag 30 is sufficiently large as to be capableof storing all of the plurality of vacuum implements 18 therein, asshown in FIG. 1.

In the illustrated embodiment, the body 31 of the implement bag 30 isgenerally flat and rectangular in shape, including a closed bottom 32end and an opened top end 33. If desired, the opened top end 33 of thebody 31 of the implement bag 30 can be provided with a closurestructure. In the illustrated embodiment, the closure structure is aconventional drawstring 33 a. In a manner that is well known in the art,the opened top end 33 of the body 31 of the implement bag 30 can beselectively closed by pulling on the drawstring 33 a. Alternatively, theclosure structure can be embodied as any other known closure structure,such as a zipper, one or more snaps, a hook and loop fastener, and thelike. If desired, a carrying structure (not shown), such as a strap orhandle, may be provided on the implement bag 30.

In use, the hose 16 and the plurality of vacuum implements 18 areinitially disposed within the implement bag 30 for storage, and theimplement bag 30 is suspended from the implement bag supporting member20 provided on the wet/dry utility vacuum 10, as shown in FIG. 1, orelsewhere, as discussed above. For example, a portion of the drawstring33 a of the implement bag 30 can be looped over the hook 20 to suspendthe implement bag 30 therefrom. As a result, the plurality of vacuumimplements 18 are conveniently and easily stored on the wet/dry utilityvacuum 10 for subsequent use. To use the wet/dry utility vacuum 10, theimplement bag 30 is removed from the implement bag supporting member 20,and the hose 16 is removed therefrom. The first end 16 a of the hose 16is then secured to the intake port 14 a of the wet/dry utility vacuum10. Next, the desired one of the plurality of vacuum implements 18 isremoved from the implement bag 30 and secured to the second end 16 b ofthe hose 16. The implement bag 30 (containing the remaining vacuumimplements 18) can either be re-suspended from the implement bagsupporting member 20 or set aside temporarily. As discussed above, whenthe suction mechanism 14 of the wet/dry utility vacuum 10 is operated,wet and dry materials are drawn through the vacuum implement 18supported on the second end 16 b of the hose 16 and the intake port 14 aso as to be deposited within the holding tank 12 for subsequentdisposal.

Following such use, the vacuum implement 18 is removed from the secondend 16 b of the hose 16, and the hose 16 is removed from the intake port14 a. The hose 16 and the vacuum implement 18 are returned within theimplement bag 30 for storage, either on the implement bag supportingmember 20. As discussed above, the body 31 of the implement bag 30 isfabricated or otherwise formed from porous or mesh material that allowfluid to drain from the vacuum implement 18 and from within theimplement bag 30. As a result, the likelihood of fluid being retainedwithin the vacuum implement 18 or within the implement bag 30 isminimized. Thus, the formation of mold or mildew resulting from theextended presence of such fluid is reduced.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, the principleand mode of operation of this invention have been explained andillustrated in its preferred embodiment. However, it must be understoodthat this invention may be practiced otherwise than as specificallyexplained and illustrated without departing from its spirit or scope.

1. A wet/dry utility vacuum and implement bag assembly comprising: awet/dry utility vacuum; an implement bag supporting member; and animplement bag supported on said implement bag supporting member, saidimplement bag containing a plurality of vacuum implements therein forselective use with said wet/dry utility vacuum.
 2. The wet/dry utilityvacuum and implement bag assembly defined in claim 1 wherein saidimplement bag is formed from flexible fabric material.
 3. The wet/dryutility vacuum and implement bag assembly defined in claim 1 whereinsaid implement bag is formed from porous material.
 4. The wet/dryutility vacuum and implement bag assembly defined in claim 1 whereinsaid implement bag is formed from mesh material.
 5. The wet/dry utilityvacuum and implement bag assembly defined in claim 1 wherein saidimplement bag includes including a closed bottom end and an opened topend.
 6. The wet/dry utility vacuum and implement bag assembly defined inclaim 5 wherein said opened top end of said implement bag is providedwith a closure structure.
 7. The wet/dry utility vacuum and implementbag assembly defined in claim 6 wherein said closure structure is adrawstring.
 8. The wet/dry utility vacuum and implement bag assemblydefined in claim 1 wherein said implement bag supporting member isprovided on said wet/dry utility vacuum.
 9. The wet/dry utility vacuumand implement bag assembly defined in claim 1 wherein said implement bagsupporting member is a hook.
 10. A wet/dry utility vacuum and implementbag assembly comprising: a wet/dry utility vacuum having an implementbag supporting member; and an implement bag supported on said implementbag supporting member, said implement bag containing a plurality ofvacuum implements therein for selective use with said wet/dry utilityvacuum.
 11. The wet/dry utility vacuum and implement bag assemblydefined in claim 10 wherein said implement bag is formed from flexiblefabric material.
 12. The wet/dry utility vacuum and implement bagassembly defined in claim 10 wherein said implement bag is formed fromporous material.
 13. The wet/dry utility vacuum and implement bagassembly defined in claim 10 wherein said implement bag is formed frommesh material.
 14. The wet/dry utility vacuum and implement bag assemblydefined in claim 10 wherein said implement bag includes including aclosed bottom end and an opened top end.
 15. The wet/dry utility vacuumand implement bag assembly defined in claim 14 wherein said opened topend of said implement bag is provided with a closure structure.
 16. Thewet/dry utility vacuum and implement bag assembly defined in claim 15wherein said closure structure is a drawstring.
 17. The wet/dry utilityvacuum and implement bag assembly defined in claim 10 wherein saidimplement bag supporting member is a hook.
 18. The wet/dry utilityvacuum and implement bag assembly defined in claim 10 wherein saidimplement bag supporting member is a hook.
 19. A method of storing awet/dry utility vacuum and a plurality of vacuum implements comprisingthe steps of: (a) providing a wet/dry utility vacuum and a plurality ofvacuum implements; (b) providing an implement bag supporting member; (c)disposing the plurality of vacuum implements within the implement bag;and (d) hanging the implement bag on the implement bag supportingmember.
 20. The method defined in claim 19 where said step (b) isperformed by providing the implement bag supporting member on thewet/dry utility vacuum.